Leadership contests tend to create the appearance of stark differences where none really exist – it’s in the interests of both candidates looking to differentiate themselves and media looking for a meaningful race to cover. In reality, these differences are usually exaggerated, and governing tends to be a moderating influence anyways.

It was a very long Saturday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre — about 12 hours for me, longer for others — for the NDP to arrive at what, for many, was an inevitable result: the election of Thomas Mulcair as their new leader. With Mulcair set to take his seat as leader . . . → Read More: A BCer in Toronto: #ndpldr pics, video and a few thoughts

On behalf of Progressive Bloggers, I’d like to thank the NDP for allowing us bloggers some great access to your convention. I’d like to specifically thank Sally Housser, the interim Deputy National Director, for the invitations and for the assistance on what to do once we got there (also thanks go to Rupinder Kaur – . . . → Read More: Thanks to the NDP for their hospitality.

Attending NDP conventions isn’t supposed to be my full time job. Rumour has it they’re handing out sleeping bags and we’re all supposed to sleep on the floor. Not happening. Mulclair will eventually win and give his speech to a convention center full of sleepy, disgruntled socialists sometime Sunday morning. He’ll be up against Return . . . → Read More: BigCityLib Strikes Back: OK, I’m Out

The computers have crashed and the vote was going to be delayed! Then the announcement announcing the delay was delayed! Now they have successfully announced the delayed announcement! The delay is officially in effect, until 5:40 when things are supposed to get back on track. I’m getting flashbacks to the Democratic Convention of Chicago, ’68.

Jim Calder and I are hanging out here at the BLoggers War Room, observing the festivities and the voting here. It’s been an interesting experience – I can see both the advantages of online voting and one member one vote(and preferential balloting going along with it) – and the disadvantages. The advantages being that more . . . → Read More: Scott’s DiaTribes: Live At The NDP Convention

— Total vote count went down. The rumoured B.C. surge (are waking B.C. voters casting on-line ballots). LPoC should take note; on-line attendance will disappoint you.–Peggy Nash drops out. Where does she go? Apparently she has released her people.–Cullen didn’t pick up much steam at all. He will not be the guy.–Topp has a . . . → Read More: BigCityLib Strikes Back: 2nd Round; Bottom Line

Just arrived at the NDP Convention, after getting lost. NDP Delegates are very friendly however, and pointed me the way. Just getting settled in, and I think it should make for a fun day, particularly after what I consider a slightly surprising First Ballot result.

With the candidate showcase showdown in the books and just over an hour until the Jack Layton tribute, I have time to switch from tweeting quick sarcastic comments to blog with a bit more deliberative thought. Like the Senate, but even more sober (there’s an open bar in the media room, but I’m behaving).

Don’t know how coherent or value added this will be after a day of tweeting, thought I’d try to get a few things down here.

First of all, impressions on the afternoon’s “showcases” of the candidates, as the NDP termed them. There were a lot of supplemental activities (floor demos, introductory speakers, videos) surrounding most . . . → Read More: Impolitical: NDP Convention – Day 1

One number everyone will be watching, Mulcair’s first ballot percentage. Some talk about a Mulcair first ballot win here at the NDP convention, but I think that would be a stunner. The conventional wisdom is multiple votes, and within that a conversation about what Mulcair needs on the critical initial ballot.

the first day has been good. this has to be the first time a convention in Canada has been run with new media. the different campaigns have put together good programs. the leadership candidates all managed very thoughtful and inspiring messages. Part of a convention like this is to create a sense of momentum for . . . → Read More: today so far

The NDP’s leadership campaign has presented such a wide variety of opportunities and questions for party members that it’s been difficult to decide who to endorse – and I’ve reached my own first-ballot decision only after taking time to see how those have been balanced out in this afternoon’s leadership showcase. But for what it’s . . . → Read More: Accidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 – First Ballot Endorsement

I hear a wildcat strike by unionized Air Canada workers at Pearson Airport has been delaying some NDP delegates from making it to the leadership convention, but luckily the TTC is still running and I’ve arrived at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, gotten my media/blogger badge, and settled into the blogger command centre on the . . . → Read More: A BCer in Toronto: A Liberal perspective on #ndpldr in Toronto

In this brief video from Huffington Post Canada Thomas Mulcair gives some insight into his strategy for not just increasing the parties presence among progressive voters but also details briefly how to get the youth demographic more engaged. Filed under: #ndpldr, Canada, Progressives Tagged: Thomas Mulcair

I made a Storify story out of my most recent decision to support Thomas Mulcair for NDP leader but seem to be having some trouble embedding it to my wordpress (thanks to my lack of knowledge on many things HTML). So, here is the link. Enjoy. Filed under: Canada, Progressives Tagged: #ndpldr, NDP, Thomas Mulcair

The Federal New Democratic Party leadership race has entered it’s final weeks and I’m completely torn. Let me start off by saying that Thomas Mulcair has been floating back and forth between my first, and second, choice for a while now. It’s true, I’ve come out full force in support of Paul Dewar for leader . . . → Read More: Mulcair or Dewar: My Brain or My Heart